Page 76 of The Duke’s Matchmaker

“Where are you going?” Jonathan asked as he pulled the horse’s head around.

“I’m going to her house,” Nathaniel explained. “I need to speak to her. To let her know that I understand all this and that we can try to find a way to move forward. I need her to know that I’m with her.”

“Nathaniel—”

“No, don’t try to stop me,” Nathaniel said. “You’re the one who said I needed to figure out a different way to manage this situation. You were right. I did. And I’ve figured it out. I need to go to her and tell her that I think I’ve understood her hesitations, and I need to let her know that she can trust me not to disappear. If there’s any chance of convincing her to marry me, that’s where it lies.”

“I think that’s a great idea,” Jonathan said. “But you shouldn’t go to her house.”

“Why shouldn’t I?”

“Because,” Jonathan said quietly, “she’s staying at mine.”

CHAPTER 38

“Dorothy!”

The shout came from the front of the house, startling Dorothy so badly that she nearly dropped her drink. She set it down and rose to her feet just in time.

Nathaniel came charging into the room as if his hair was on fire. He nodded a quick greeting to Violet, who was staring at him with wide eyes, and then hurried over to stand in front of Dorothy.

“I’m not letting you go,” he said.

He was breathing hard, as though from exertion. Had he run here? She didn’t know what to think, and she found herself at a loss for words.

Jonathan came hurrying through the door. I’m sorry, he mouthed to nobody in particular.

Dorothy didn’t know what he was sorry for. Was it the fact that he had let Nathaniel discover that she was here? Or maybe he had gone to get Nathaniel on purpose, in which case how much did an apology really count for?

And what did he mean, he wasn’t letting her go?

“It isn’t up to you,” she said, stepping back. “Don’t make this harder than it has to be, Nathaniel, I’ve given you my answer.”

“Violet,” Jonathan said, “we ought to let these two speak. Alone.”

“Alone?” Violet asked, a note of worry entering her voice. “I don’t think that’s a very good idea, Jonathan, all things considered.”

She thinks he’s going to kiss me again.

That wasn’t going to happen, though. Dorothy had enough self-control for that. “It’s all right, Violet,” she said. “Nathaniel and I have been on our own together enough times that one more won’t do us any harm.”

A part of her had no idea what she was thinking, consenting to be alone with him. The last time they’d been alone together…

No. No, she was sure of herself. She wouldn’t let it happen again. She knew better now. She knew that it couldn’t lead to anything good, and she didn’t need to find out the hard way.

As far as what he wanted…well, as to that, she had no idea. But there was probably only one way to find out. Let him have his way. Let him be alone with her, let him say what he wanted to say in private. Tell him that nothing was ever going to happen between the two of them. And then maybe he would finally go his own way and leave her in peace.

Leave me to my heartbreak.

Jonathan and Violet exchanged glances, and Dorothy had the feeling something had been communicated between the two of them, in the way married people seemed to have of communicating without speaking. Violet rose and walked to her husband, who put an arm around her. “We’ll be just outside,” he told them. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to call out.”

Which might well have been a warning as well as a reassurance. We’re going to be nearby, so don’t get any ideas about having privacy, because you don’t. We might come back in at any moment.

That was good, Dorothy decided. He wouldn’t try to kiss her again if he was concerned about that. Because, if she was being honest, she had doubts when it came to her own willpower. Giving in to him had been so lovely…

Violet and Jonathan left the room, and Nathaniel and Dorothy were left on their own.

Neither of them moved to sit down. It was all Dorothy could do to keep breathing.